According to Yahoo Sports, if Ehrhoff had retired before the end of his contract, the Sabres would have been hit with a salary cap penalty. The maximum penalty would have been $10 million if Ehrhoff was traded and then retired before the 2021 season.

The Sabres used their first compliance buyout earlier this summer on Ville Leino, who also signed a contract the same year as Ehrhoff.

Ehrhoff will be a popular target for teams this summer after he led Sabres defensemen with 33 points last season. He has 69 goals and 244 assists in 10 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks and Sabres.